Company Withdraws Proposal For Store

LAUDERHILL -- A company that wanted to store and sell pool supplies, but was rejected by the City Council in December, has withdrawn its appeal.

Guardian Pools Inc. wanted to build the store on West Commercial Boulevard near Northwest 82nd Avenue.

Emerson Allsworth, an attorney for the company, withdrew the appeal at the City Council`s meeting on Monday.

The company president ``decided to find another location for the site,`` Allsworth said. ``He didn`t see any reason for going on with the debate.`` Allsworth left the door open, however, for the company to build on a different site in the city.

``There`s no point in going through the exercise if you`re planning to relocate,`` Allsworth said.

The Planning and Zoning Board rejected the company`s plans in December, citing concerns about the proposed use of storage tanks and the safety of nearby residents.

The tanks would have held chlorine and muriatic acid, which produce harmful gases if mixed.

The company then appeared before the council, which asked for an opinion from the Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board.

Before the board ruled, the council refused to consider the company`s plan, however, citing the same concerns the planning board cited. The council did tell company representatives to go back to the planning board.

Vincent Caldarone Jr., president of Guardian Pools, revised his plans, separating the tanks holding the chemicals and fencing them to prevent vandalism.

At the same time, the Environmental Quality Control Board issued the company a permit to store chemicals, saying it had met all applicable laws.

But the planning board rejected the revised plan.

Residents who would have been affected by the store complained at the planning board and council meetings.

In response, the company not only appealed the council`s decision but appealed directly to residents.

Caldarone circulated a letter, asking residents for their support and asking them to fill out a card, checking off a box saying they support the plan.

The card did not contain a box for those opposing the plan.

Residents told city officials about the letter and said the card was an insult to the council.